Automatic whistle-actuating mechanism for locomotives



Jul 15 1924. 1,501,506

. E. R. WATKINS AUTOMATIC WHISTLE AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES Fil'ed'duly 11. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sttozmzq Jul 15-, 1924. K

E. R. WATKINS AUTOMATIC WHISTLE Abrrunmfi MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES I Filed July 11, 1923 2 SheeLs-Sheet 2 Patented July 15, 1924,

UNITED STATES,

isomer PATENT OFFICE.

ELDON R. WATKINS, OF KINGMAN, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC WHISTLEPACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed July 11, 1923. Serial No. 650,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELDoN R. /VATKINs, a native-born citizen of the United States, re sidin at Kingman, in the county of Reno and tate of Kansas, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Automatic Whistle-Actuating Mechanism for Locomotives, of which the following is a specifi operating the whistle mechanism at grade crossings, stations and the like,

. The primary object of my invention is the provision of such a whistle actuating mechanism for locomotives, that is comparatively simple in construction, and one that will operate effectively under all conditions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for locomotives wherein the same may be thrown out of operation at will, and wherein means is pro-' vided for indicating to the engineer the names of the different stations that his train is approaching.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of partscas claimed.

- In the drawings'forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary rear elevation of one side of a locomotive equipped with my novel whistle mechanism.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the front end of the locomotive, a portion of which is shown in cross section, for more clearly dis closing certain portions of my mechanism,

Figure 3 is a detail vertical cross section taken substantially' upon the line 33, and looking forwardly in the direction of the arrows.-

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan of a particular form of endless chain employed in conjunction with this invention,

Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof, and

Figure 6 is what may be termed a plan view of an electrical actuating mechanism for the locomotive whistle.

,First, having reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, 5 designates generally a locomotive equipped with a wellknown form of whistle 6. In the furtherance of my invention, the front axle 7 of the front loco-"f motive truck 8 is equipped with a worm gear 9, that is in mesh with a verticalworm gear 10, suitably journaled between bearings '11, that are carried by said. axle 7. Supported above said axle 7 is a gear box 12, within which is a desirable form of reduction gear:

(not shown), that is driven by said worm 10.' One shaft of this reduction gearing pro; jects outwardly of the box 12 that is equipped with a spur gear 13, that is adapted for intermesh with a spur gear 14 upon a stub shaft 15, that is universally connected at 16' to the lower end ofa vertical shaft17. This shaft 17 is suitably journaled within an opening in the floor 18 of the locomotive at one end, and within a bearing 19 carried by abracket 20 upon the front end of the.

locomotive boiler at its upper end.

Keyed to the vertical shaft 17 adjacent its upper end is a sprocket wheel, while in direct alinement with this sprocket wheel and within the cap of the locomotive, is a similar sprocket wheel 21, that is journaled within a bracket 22. sprockets is an endless chain 22, that p is preferably :of the form shown in Figures 4i and 5. 7

As clearly shown in these figuresf'aswell as in Figure 3, opposite sides of desirable ones of the links are equipped with upstandings plates 23, each of which is formed at its upper edge with a suitable number of notches 24, the number of these notches cor responding to the number of times in quick succession, it is desired that the whistle 6 be blown, As shown in Figure 5, certain sides of these notches are bevelled for purposes presently to be set forth, and that the notches of the plates on one side of the plates are bevelled upon edges opposite from the edges of the notches upon the plates on the other side of the chainlinks.

Immediately above this chain 22, and at the inner side thereof is a freely vertically movable bar 25, that is held within guide brackets 26 secured to the boiler of the locomotive, Upon the lower endofthis rod-25, there is pivotally secured at 27 a yoke 28 Trained over these alined that comprises apair of legs as shown in Figure ll h portion of this yoke above its pivotal connection to the rod 25 is formed with an arcuate slot, through whichextends a set screw 29, that engages at its screw threaded end within ascrew threaded opening of the said rod, whereby this yoke may have either one of its legs in position to en: gage the upstanding plates 23 upon opposite sidescof thev linksconstitutin'g said chain 22.

Directly above this. rod 25 and pivoted to the uppermost rodbracket 26 is a bell crank 30, the lower arm of which has contact with the upper end of said rod' while the upper arni isgin engagement with the lower end of the usual actuatii'ig lever6 of the whistle 6. 'l-lie lower-endsiof the legs constituting said yoke; are bevelled, it being at once apparent thatithewhistle.will beblown, it being ofcourse understood that plates formed with varying, number of notches, andthese at diii erent spacesapart, will control the blowingofitliewhistle at grade-crossings, curves, and the like, that is now required by law.

, Upon a e'turntrip of the locomotive bearmg thisflwhistl'eactuating l'nechanism, it will be. necessary. that the yoke be moved over into a. diiierent-position, for consequently engaging. the opposite leg thereof with the platesiupon oppositesioles of the links constituting the chain-22.

Asa means for setting said chain 22, the

sprocket gear 21 may be rotated by the engineer through the medium of a crank handle 31.

, board 18 of 'the locomotive at its front end,

' being pivotally connected to one end of aand pivotally secured at 32 beneath said opening is a rocking lever 33, the lower end of which is operatively connected to the stub shaft 15, the upper end of said rocking lever rearwardly directed rod 34. The opposite end of this rod has'pivotal connection to one end ofat hand lever 35 within the locomotive cap, which hand, lever carries'a suitable detent 36,1.forcooperation witlra notched segment 37, it being of course apparent that amdvement of this hand lever 35 will cause aiswinging movement of the stub shaft 15 for engaging or disengaging the gear14 fromjthe gear 13, for thereby connectingor disconnecting-the whistle actuating mechan'ism -ntrom the locomotive;

Certain of the links constituting the chain 22 are formed centrally with. upstanding fingers 38, that are adapted to engage teeth 39 upon a drum 40, that is suitably journaled within the locomotive cab. This drum 40 carries the names of the different stations in the line of travel of the locomotive, whereby a movement of the chain will consequently rotate this drum for bringing to view through an opening in a cover plate 42, the name of the town or city being approached.

In Figure 6, there is shown an electric means for actuating the whistle 6, and in this instance, an upstanding plate 23 of the chain 22 will engage a finger 43 upon one end of a pivot contact arm of an electric switch. Above this arm, is a stationary contact 44. When the pivotal contact 43 is raised by the said plates 23, the circuit will be completedthrough a battery 45 to an electromagnet 46, which will attract an armature 47 upon one arm of a bell crank 48 that is pivoted to a'suitable bracket 50 upon the locomotive boiler. The opposite arm of said bell crank is in close contact with the said lever 6 of the whistle 6 for thereby operating said whistle at each energization ofthe magnet.

In view of the above description, it is believed by me that the operation and advantages of a whistle actuating mechanismfor locomotives of the present character will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and although I have herein shown and described the most preferred embodiments of the invention with which I am at present familiar, it is nevertheless to be' understood that minor changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent, is: f

1. In combination with a locomotive,

means operatively connected to the running" r A 'gear of the locomotive for automatically Extendln'g through? an opening in the floor actuating the whistle thereof, and means for disconnecting said first mention'ed'meansl 2. In combination with a locomotive wherein the same includes the usual signalling whistle, an endless chain operatlvely connected to the running gear of the locomotive, abutments upon the chain, and means operatively connected to said locomo tive whistle to be engaged by said abutments during the movement of the chain for blow ing said signalling whistle.

3. In combination with a locomotive wherein the same includes the usual signalling whistle, an endless chain operatively' connected tothe running gear of the'locomotive, abutment's upon the chain, and means operatively connected to said locomotive whistle to be engaged by said abutmenjts during the movement of the chain for blow- 'ing said signalling whistle, and manual controlled means for disconnecting said chain from the locomotive running gear.

4. In combination with a locomotive 5 wherein the same includes the usual signalling whistle, an endless chain operatively connected to the running gear of the locomotive, abutments upon the chains, and

means operatively connected to said locomotive whistle to be engaged by said abutments during the movement of the same for blowing said signalling whistles, and means whereby said chains may be manually controlled for setting said chains.

In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

ELDON RLWAT INS. 

